1501Shepherd I would there were no age between ten and 1502three and twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest, 1503for there is nothing in the between but getting 1504wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, 1505fighting -- hark you now! Would any but these 1506boiled-brains of nineteen and two-and-twenty hunt this 1507weather? They have scared away two of my best sheep, 1508which I fear the wolf will sooner find then the 1509master. If anywhere I have them, 'tis by the seaside, 1510browsing of ivy. Good luck, an't be thy will! What have 1511we here? [Seeing the baby] Mercy on's, a bairn? A very pretty bairn! A 1512boy or a child I wonder? A pretty one, a very pretty 1513one, sure some scape. Though I am not bookish, yet I 1514can read waiting-gentlewoman in the scape. This has 1515been some stair-work, some trunk-work, some 1516behind-door work. They were warmer that got this 1517than the poor thing is here. I'll take it up for pity, yet 1518I'll tarry till my son come. He hallooed but even now. 1519Whoa-ho-hoa!

1530Clown I would you did but see how it chafes, how it 1531rages, how it takes up the shore, but that's not to the point. 1532Oh, the most piteous cry of the poor souls, sometimes 1533to see 'em, and not to see 'em. Now the ship boring 1534the moon with her main mast, and anon swallowed 1535with yeast and froth, as you'd thrust a cork into a 1536hogshead. And then for the land-service, to see how the 1537bear tore out his shoulderbone, how he cried to me 1538for help, and said his name was Antigonus, a nobleman. 1539But to make an end of the ship, to see how the sea 1540flap-dragoned it. But first, how the poor souls roared and 1541the sea mocked them, and how the poor gentleman 1542roared and the bear mocked him, both roaring louder 1543than the sea or weather.

1550Clown I would you had been by the ship side, to have 1551helped her. There your charity would have lacked footing.

1552Shepherd Heavy matters, heavy matters. But look thee 1553here, boy. Now bless thyself. Thou meet'st with things 1554dying, I with things newborn. Here's a sight for thee! 1555Look thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child. Look 1556thee here. Take up, take up, boy. Open't! So, let's see, it 1557was told me I should be rich by the fairies. This is some 1558changeling. Open't! What's within, boy?

1559Clown[Opens box] You're a made old man. If the sins of your 1560youth are forgiven you, you're well to live. Gold, all 1561gold.

1562Shepherd This is fairy gold boy, and 'twill prove so. Up 1563with't, keep it close. Home, home, the next way. We 1564are lucky, boy, and to be so still requires nothing but 1565secrecy. Let my sheep go. Come, good boy, the next 1566way home.

1567Clown Go you the next way with your findings. I'll go 1568see if the bear be gone from the gentleman and how 1569much he hath eaten. They are never curst but when they 1570are hungry. If there be any of him left, I'll bury it.

1571Shepherd That's a good deed. If thou mayst discern by 1572that which is left of him what he is, fetch me to th'sight 1573of him.

1574Clown 'Marry, will I, and you shall help to put him 1575i'th' ground.